Automatic humidifier



Patented Nov. 2, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AUTOMATIC HUMIDIFIER Harry J. MeCombs Bur-dick, Anaheim, Calif. Application September 3, 1935, Serial No. 38,958

4 Claims. (01. 123 I scription taken in connection with the accom-.

panying drawing wherein: I

Fig. l is a fragmentary side view of an automobile with portions thereof broken away and showing my improved humidifier operatively in- I stalled in association with the engine of the automobile; Fig. 2 is an enlarged section through my improved humidifler;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary section of the humidifier showing details of the water control valve;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged view partly the water injector, and I Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectionthrough the thermostatically controlled valve.

Referring to the'drawing by reference characters I have indicated an automobile generally at III. The automobile Ill includes the usual internal combustion engine I2 having a fuel intake manifold i3 which conveys fuel from a carburetor II to the engine.

Associated with the engine i2 I have shown my improved humidifier which I have indicated generally at I5. As shown the humidifier l5 includes a body portion l6 having a cylindrical recess l1 therein, the open end of which is closed by a screw cap 18. At the end of the recess l1 opposite the cap l8 the body It is suitably apertured as at l9 to receive a packing gland 20.

Adjacent the cap l8 the body I6 has a threaded recess 2| therein in which a tubing coupler member 22 is positioned and adjacent the opposite end of the recess l1 the body has a threaded recess 23 therein in which a threaded stem of an air'filter device 24 is positioned. Adjacent the coupler 22 the body i6 has anaperture 25 therein, one end of which communicates with the threaded recess 2| and the opposite end with the recess i1. Adjacent the opposite end of the recess l1 the body has an aperture 26 therein, one end of which communicates with the threaded recess 23 and the opposite end with the recess I1.

in section of Below the recess l1 and on the same end of thebody llasthecap l8 thebodyhasarecess 21 therein which includes a threaded portion 28- adjacent its open end. At the end opposite the recess 21 and coaxial therewith the body It has a threaded recess 29 therein and intermediate the recesses 21 and 20 the body I 6 has a reduced aperture 3| which is coaxial with the recesses 21 and 29 and at one end opens into the recess 21 and at the opposite end opens into therecess 29.

'Ihprecessflisclosedbyathreadedplugfl which engages the recess threads 28 and the plug 3| is shown as locked in an adjusted position by lock nuts 32. At its inner end the plug 3| has a irusto-conical recess 33 therein and at the opposite end the plug 3| has a conical recess 3| therein and between the recesses 33 and 24 and communicating therewith the plug has a very small aperture .35 therein.

Over the outer end of the plug II I preferably provide screen member 36 which may be held in place by a band It and clamp nut 36".

The recess 2! is closed by a threaded plug 31 which has an aperture 38 therethrough. The plug 31 is shown as locked in an adjusted position by lock nuts 38.

Adjacent-the threaded portion 28 of the recess 21' the body I has a threaded recess 40 therein in which is positioned a tubing coupler member 4i and adjacent the opposite end of the recess 21 the body l6 has a threaded recess 42 therein inwhich is positioned a tubing coupler member 43. Adjacent the plug II the body I6 has a reduced aperture 44 therein one end of which communicates with the threaded recess 40 and the opposite end withthe recess 21. Adjacent the opposite end of the recess 21 the body Ii has a reduced aperture 45 therein one end of which communicates with the threaded recess 42 and the opposite end with the recess 21.

Positioned in the recess I1 I provide a piston member I and between the piston 46 ,and the cap I! I provide a coiled spring (I which resiliently urges the piston toward the end of the recess l1 remote from the cap iii. The piston 46 includes a stem portion 48 which extends out of the recess I1 through the aperture l9 and the packing gland 2... Adjacent its outer end the stem II is loosely connected by a link 49 to a lever bar 5|. Above the stem 48 the lever 50 is pivotally secured as at 5| to a bracket 52 shown as integral with the body It.

Positioned in the recess 21 I provide a valve member 53'which includes a piston portion 54 and a frusto-conical portion 55 which terminates in a flat end face 58. The valve 58 further includes a short reduced hub portion 81 which is positioned in the aperture 88 and a reduced stem portion 58 which is positioned in the aperture 88 and in 1 1e aperture 88 of the plug 81. The

' outer end oi the stem 58 is loosely connected by a link 58 to the lever 58. Surrounding the stem 58 between the hub 51 and the plug 88 I provide a coiled spring 88- which resiliently urges the valve 58 towards the plug 8|.

The piston and conical portions of the valve 58 have an aperture 8| therein which extends from the end 58 to the opposite side of the piston portion 54. The aperture 8| opens through the end 58 on one side of the axis of the valve so that when the end 58 of the valve engages the bottom of the recess 88 of the plug 8| the apertures 85 and 8| do not communicate. (See Fig. 3.)

When the humidifier I5 is operatively installed in association with an engine, such as the engine |2 as shown in Fig. 1, the coupler member 22 is connected by a tube 82 to an injector member 88 and the coupler member 4| is likewise connected to the injector 88 by a tube 84. The coupler member 48 is connected by a tube 85 to a thermo control valve 88 and the thermo valve is in turn connected by a tube 81 to a water reservoir 88.

As shown in Fig. 4 the injector member 88 is in the form of a T fitting with the ends of the cross bar portion 88 having tubing coupler members 18 thereon for securing the tubes 82 and 84 thereto. The end of the stem portion 1| of the injector is closed by a conical end portion 12 which has a plurality of small apertures 18 therein. The stem portion 1| further includes an externally threaded portion 14 which engages the threads of a threaded aperture 15 provided in the intake manifold l8 the engine l2.

As shown in Fig.5 the thermo control valve 86 includes a body portion 18 having a reduced stem portion 11 extending therefrom which includes a threaded portion 18. This threaded portion 18 engages the threads of an aperture 18 provided in the water jacket 88 of the engine |2. Adjacent its upper end the body 18 has a chamber 8| therein and below the chamber 8| the body has a chamber 82 therein. Between the chambers 8| and 82 the body has a downwardly tapered reduced aperture 88 therein which forms a valve seat and at one end opens into the chamber 8| and at the opposite end opens into the chamber 82. The body 18 has a tube coupler member 84 suitably secured thereto which connects the tube 81 to the body and adjacent the coupler 84 the body 18 has an aperture 85 therein which communicates with the coupler 84 and with the chamber 8|.

Furthermore, the body 18 has a tube coupler member 88 suitably secured thereto which connects the tube 85 to the body and adjacent the coupler 88 the body 18 has an aperture 81 therein which communicates with the coupler 88 and with the chamber 82. The body 18 and the stem suitably secured as by threads 8| to a thermo responsive rod 82. The rod 82 is made of suitable thermo responsive material and when heated becomes elongated. The rod 82 is positioned acaaus in the recess 88 and is secured to the lower end of the stem 11 by a screw 88.

When the engine is not operating and is cold the thermo rod 82 retains the valve 88 in tight engagement with the valve seat 88 and prevents flow of water from the chamber 8| to the chamber 82. Furthermore, when the engine is not operating the spring 41 of the humidifier l forces the piston 48 towards the lever 58 thereby swinging the lever outward which in turn moves the valve 58 with it until the piston portion 54 enzases the end of the recess 21.

When the valve 58 is in this position the piston portion 54 thereof closes the inner end of the aperture 45 thereby preventing water from entering the recess 21. When the engine is started, as is well known a partial vacuum is created in the fuel intake manifold and it is furthermore well known that when the engine is idling the degree of vacuum is increased in the intake manifold due to the throttle valve being completely or nearly closed and that when the engine is operating at a high speed a lower degree of vacuum is produced in the intake manifold due to the throttle valve being more fully open.

When the engine is started and is idlinga partial vacuum is formed in the tubes 82 and- 84. The vacuum in the tube 82 produces a partial vacuum in the recess |1 between the piston 48 and the cap I 8 which causes the piston to move towards the cap l8. As the piston 48 thus moves it swings the lever 58 towards the body |8 thereby moving the end 58 of the valve 58 into tight engagement with the bottom of the recess 88 of the plug 8| as shown in Fig. 3. When the valve 58 is in this position both the valve aperture 8| and the plug aperture 85 are closed thus preventing air entering the recess 21 and any water in the recess 21 between the piston portion 54 and the bottom of the recess 21 from being drawn into the tube 84 through the aperture 44.

'When the engine has warmed to a predetermined degree the thermo rod 82 moves the valve 88 out of engagement with the valve seat 88 "whereupon water is free to flow from the tank speed up the engine less vacuum is produced in the recess ll of the device I 5 whereupon the spring 41 moves the piston towards the bottom of the recess |1. As the piston thus moves it swings the lever 58 outward which'in turn moves the valve 58 away from the plug 8| whereupon the partial vacuum in the tube 84 draws air into the chamber 21 through the aperture 85 and at the same time draws water through the valve aperture 8|. As the water passes out of the aperture 8| it meets the incoming air from the aperture 85 and is partly vaporized. This vapor is then drawn through the tube 84 into the injector device 88 and passes out therefrom through the apertures 18 into the'intake manifold I8 and mixes with the engine fuel.

Solong .as the engine is operating beyond idling speed and is warmed to a predetermined degree the valve 58 is retained'in a position substantially as shown in Fig. 2 to allow water vapor to enter the fuel intake manifold. When; th e engine speed drops to idling speed the valve 53 is moved as previously described to the position shown in Fig. 3 to restrict the flow of water vapor to the fuel intake manifold and when the engine ceases to operate entirely the valve 53 is moved to a position wherein the piston portion 54 thereof restricts the entrance of water through the aperture 45 into the recess 21 and the rear end of the aperture BI is closed against the rear wall of the recess 21 as previously described.

After the engine ceases to operate and cools to a predetermined degree the thermo rod 92 moves the valve 89 into tight engagement with its associated valve seat 83 and again prevents the flow of water from the chamber ill to the chamber Having thus described my invention 1 claim:

1. In a humidifier adapted to be controlled by the degree of vacuum produced in the intake system of an engine, a body, said body including an air inlet, a water inlet and a humidified air outlet, a vacuum controlled valve, said valve having three operative positions, said valve in one position closing said air inlet and said humidified air outlet while leaving the water inlet open and in another position closing said water inlet, while leaving said air inlet and humidified air outlet open and when in an intermediate position allowing passage through both of said inlets and said outlet.

2. In a humidifier, a body having a chamber therein, said body having an aperture providing an air inlet, a valve in said chamber, fluid operated means to move said valve, said chamber having a water inlet at one end, said chamber having an outlet at the other end, said body having a irusto-conical recess therein communicating with said air inlet, said valve having a cylindrical body and a frusto-conical head conforming in shape to the recess in said plug, the end of said valve being plane and serving to close said air inlet when the valve is in one extreme position, the cylindrical portion of said valve serving to close said water inlet when the valve is in the other extreme position, said valve having an aperture extending therethrough, said aperture at one end being disposed at one side 01' said plane portion, said aperture at the other end terminating at the other end of the valve.

3. Ina humidifier, a body having a chamber therein, said chamber having an inlet adapted to communicate with an intake manifold, a piston in said chamber, said body having a second chamber therein, said second chamber being disposed at one side of said first chamber, said body having an air inlet aperture therein opening into one end of said second chamber, a valve member in said second chamber, lever means connecting said piston and valve whereby movement of said piston moves said valve, a water supply conduit having an outlet opening into one end of said second chamber, an outlet conduit extending from the other end oi said second chamberand adapted to communicate with an intake manifold, said valve having an end portion adapted in one extreme position to close said air inlet aperture,

said valve body in another extreme position overlapping said water conduit outlet, said valve in all portions being free from said outlet conduit.

4. In a humidifier, a body having a pair of chambers therein, each of said chambers being closed at one end and open at the other end, a piston in one of said chambers, said piston including a piston rod, a spring normally urging said piston in one direction, said one chamber having an inlet, said other chamber having a plug in the open end thereof, said plug having an aperture providing an air inlet, a bore extending from said other chamber, a valve in said other chamber, said valve having a stem slidable in said bore, a lever pivoted on said body, said piston rod and said stem being pivoted to said lever,

, air inlet, said valve having a cylindrical body and a irusto-conical head conforming in shape to the recess in said plug, the end of said valve being plane and serving to close said air inlet when the valve is in one extreme position, the cylindrical in one direction and a relatively light spring urging said valve towards its seat.

HARRY J. McCOMZBS BURDICK. 

